allen



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' J. ALLEN. 4 Folding Reclining-Chair. I No. 224,319. Patented Feb.10.1880'."

ATTORNEY J. ALLEN. Folding Reclining-Chair,

Patented Fb.10,1 880.

;, ITNESSES ATTCRNEY UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH ALLEN, OF PALMYRA, NEW YORK.

FOLDING RECLINING-CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION .To all whom it may cohcem:

Be it known that I, "JOSEPH ALLEN, of Palmyra, in the county of Wayne and State of New York, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Folding Reclining-Chair's; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de'sc'ription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying draw' ings, which form part of this specification.-

My invention relates to an improvement in folding reclining-chairs, the object beingto provide a chair of suelrconstruction and relative arrangement of parts that the chair back and seat may be adjusted to anydesired angle of inclination to serve either as an upright 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the chair, the

parts being adjusted to constitute a reclining chair. Fig. 4 is a side view of the chair when the parts are folded together. Fig. 5 is a-view,

in perspective, of the improved chair.

' A A represent the side frame-pieces of the chair, theopposite ends of whichare-conn'ected by the cross-bars B B. (3 Gare braces, the upper ends of which are -pivotedto side pieces, A A, by means of bolts a a, while the lower ends of the braces are connected by a transverse brace, D.

The seat-frame of the chair consists of the side pieces E E, which latter are pivoted at their rear ends to the inner sides of side frames A A, while their forward ends are connected by a cross-round, F. To the under side of cross-round F is hinged an adjustable brace, G, the lower end of which engages in any one of the series of notches 1) formed in the upper edge of the hinged connecting-brace H. The forward endof the hinged or folded brace H is provided with a metal strap,'c, which encirfoi'ming part of Letters Patent No. 224,319, dated February 10, 1880. Application filed September 30, 1879,

cles the lower cross round or bar,'B, whereby the rear and free end of the brace H may be freelym'oved in a vertical direction. Brace H is composed of one, tw0,0r more hinged sections, 01 d, thelower edges of each of which are provided-with notches e, which are adapted to engage'with inan annular groove, f, formed in thecen-tral portion of the cross bar or braceD.

The back I and seat K are formed of a continuous pieceof cloth or suitable flexible material, the upper end of which is secured in any desired m'anner'to thecross bar or round B, which" connects the upper ends of side frames A A, and the lower endis attached to thecross-round F.

cured to the side frames, A A, the ends of the band being connected by a buckle or'oth'er suitable device for regulating the tension of the band. This supporting-band may be adjusted toward or away from the seat, according to thewish of the occupant, and may-serve to supportthe back in an easy and healthful position. I g

In Fig. 1 the seat is arranged to support the occupant at the ordinary inclination when sitting in an easy position, andwhen so adjusted the pivoted section at of 4 the connecting-brace His engaged with the cross-bar-D.

The back of the; chair can be secured at any desired inclination by means of the series of notche'sifi the section h, any one of which notehesj'may beengaged with the cross-bar also, the inclination of the chair-seat may be varied b'yi-placing thelower endof the brace, which is hinged thereto, in the notches in the upper edge of hinged section d.

When the chair is arranged in any of the several adjustments hereinindicated the outer section, d, of the sectional hinged brace H is folded over beneath the chair, and thus does not occupy any unnecessary space. When it is desired to transform the chair ,into a reclining-chair, section at of the conmeeting-brace H is raised, thereby disengaging the notch in its lower edge from the cross-bar D. The lower ends of the braces O O are then moved rearwardly, and the hinged section 11 of brace H unfolded and one of the notches in its lower edge engaged with the cross-bar An adjustable supporting-band, L, is se- 1). The lower end of the hinged chair-seat brace is also moved rearwardly and engaged with one of the notches in the upper edge of section d of the connecting brace H. The several parts will then be in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 and the lower edge of the connecting-brace resting upon the floor, so that it becomes practically impossible to break or injure the connecting-brace H by reason of the weight of the occupant on the hinged chairseat brace, as the entire strain on the braccis thus relieved.

When the chair is in the inclined position illustrated in Fig. 3 the adjustable supporting band L may be moved in any desired adjust ment to support the head or shoulders of the occupant.

The chair may be folded up into small compass for storage or transportation, as illus' trated in Fi 4, the hinged braces folding against the outer sides of side frames, 0 G, the chair-seat frame-pieces folding between frame pieces A A and the hinged folding braces H folding against the seat and back.

A chair constructed in aecordancewith my invention is of small initial cost and does not require costly machinery in its manufacture. The side frames and braces are pivoted to each other by ordinary carriage-bolts. The relative arrangement of parts of the chair is such that I secure maximum durability and strength by the employment of material of light Weight, and also enable the chair to be adjusted to varying inclinations to suit the occupant, and in any of the various adjustments of the chair its parts are thoroughly braced and supported.

In many constructions of recliningchairs the base projects rearwardly such a distance that it is quite objectionable, for the reason that it occupies so much space that it is constantly in the way of persons walking about the room wherein the chair is placed.

My improved chair, when adjusted in an upright position, occupies but little space, as the lower horizontal brace is madein sections and is folded out of the way beneath the chair.

\Vhile chairs embodying my improvement may be made plain and cheap in construction, they are susceptible of high ornamentation, as the frame-pieces may be carved and different portions thereof upholstered, if desired.

It is evident that slight changes may be made in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- I. In a reclining chair, the combination, with the chair-seat side pieces, pivoted at their rear ends to the side frame-pieces of the chair, and a continuous chair back and seat made of flexible material, of a notched brace having its forward end pivoted to the cross-round connectin g the lower ends of the side frame-pieces of the chair, and a brace hinged at its upper end to the under side of the front cross-round of the chair-seat, the lower end of said brace being adapted to en gage in the notches in the upper edge of the notched brace, substantially as set forth.

2. In a recliniugchair, the combination, with the side frame pieces of the chair and pivoted braces, of a folding or sectional notched brace, hinged or pivoted at its forward end to the lower cross round or bar of the side framepieces, and its rear end adapted to be folded beneath the chair, substantially as set forth.

3. In a reclining chair, the combination, with the side frame-pieces of the chair and pivoted rear braces and pivoted seat-frame, of a hinged brace, hinged or pivoted to the lower cross-round of the side frame pieces of the chair and provided with notches on its upper and lower edges, and a hinged brace connected with the under side of the pivoted seat, substantially as set forth.

4. In a reclining chair, the combination, with a continuous chair back and seat made of flexible material, of an adjustable band or belt attached to the side frame-pieces of the chair, the opposite ends of said band or belt being provided with a buckle for regulating the tension of said adjustable band, subs'tantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have-hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH ALLEN.

Witnesses:

B. G. TIFFANY, 0. Z. OULvEn.. 

